Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-03-19
MIDAS IN WASHINGTON.
NOW RESIDENT MlllIONAIRES IN
CREASE THE COST OF LIVING.

CREASE THE COST OF LIVING.
A Chas vvish George II. Pendieton--A
L~1k-s -ss Mrs. Folsom-Pen Picture OF
ssaassr xsir-A ssory of senator Chase.
slss. 90, 900 in q Lump.
= Especial Correspondence
WASHINGTON, March i4-l met George
Il. Pendleton, our minister to Germany,
the other night at Worinleyis. He is
veil dressed and as clean looking as ever,
and he has the same suave manner and pleas
ant words which gave him the title OF Gen
deman George" His health appears to he
better than il was when he left the United
States His complexion is clearer and his
blue ewes are brighter There is not an ad-
ditio.sl gray strand in the thick thatch Of
his wsu cut hair and his step is as springy as
shos,gh be were but 50 He tells me he likes
the aipaumafic service very well, that
he has no trouble with his German AMI
that Berlin is q very pleasant station He
us,sks very highly OF Prince Bismarck and
Kaiser Wilhelm, and SAYS that the emperor's
health. both mentally and physically, IS ex-
cellent asked him as TO the prospects of
would be an immediate war. tlough every
thing looked threatening, and what would
happen when the spring opened no one but
Bismarck knew. He says that Emperor
William considers the army as school as well
q . defense, and he thinks that 1t DEMENT'S the
German youth 10 have several years OF mill
sary trsining rs a preparation for the other
duties of life. The reichstag has been called
- - - tha md
this n an sviden,e that Bismarck has a par
hamsat 70 suit him Mr.. Pendieton tells me
shsre are 500 Americans in Berlin, and that
more than 100 American students attend the
university there He says Berlin grows very
rapidly, and that it now has population OF
about 500, 600
pot Of money now goes great way in
Washington society. King Midas begins to
sssert his reign here The blight OF the mil
houaire is spreading. The era of blue blood
and big brains is passing away. That OF the
money bags and shoddy aristocracy is com
ing in The statesman who lives at a board
ing house and keeps within his income OF
$500 Q year is now a very ordinary person
socially, and the lions are those whose checks
arc good for hundreds of thousands and
whose assets run into the millions. Living in
Washington costs more and more from Year
70 wear, and this cost will continue to increase
o the city grows. The wife OF one OF
the senators wore diamonds at presidents
reception this winter said to be worth $500,
600, and q social gathering of any kind brings
cut diamonds by the cupful. The result Is
that the poorer OF our public men are not
able TO keep house at Washington, and such
o have daughters in society are spending far
more than their income. l know of promi-
oept members of the house who have been
compelled to put mortgages on their homes
70 paw their winters entertaining bills, and
one well known statesmans house was sold AT
sherifYs sale not long ago for this reason. A
pro,uinept western senator, whose wife Is well
known In Washington society, said yester-
day that he wished he could pass law
70 prevent any millionaire residing IN Wash
hgton, and doubt not that a majority OF the
statesmen wish for the days before the war
when congressman lived in messes. and good
board could be had for from 8 to $40 a
week. The noveau richie who have invaded
Washington society have bought magnificent
houses, and their palaces are scattered al
along Massachusetts avenue and K street.
They give gorgeous receptions, drive about
he city in magnificent carriages, and the
,ost Of their dinners runs into the thousands
sf dollars. They have been received with
open arms, and some Of them secure social
standing here which they fail to obtain IN
their own homes .
But how about the old Washingtoniansi
Those blue blooded aristocrats who come
from the stock Of the statesmen Of the past
and who have prided themselves for these
many years on their exclusiveness.
Alas. this element is fast becoming one Of
the myths of the past The old Washing
touians now caIl on every one, and you find
them kneeling before the golden thrones
Washington society Is governed by differ
ent rule than that of any other city. and the
rule is tn call upon those who call upon you
and ask no questions Any one who make
the rounds of calls in Washington. and leave:
q card with her residence upon 1t IN good
mart of the city. would receive calls from
nine-tenths of the ladies she calls upon. II
her home has the glitter of fortune about il
its owner need have little fear about the &C
auainsince being kept up, and her inyitation
70 dinners and teas will be accepted. Th'
newspapers will notice her, and in a shoI'
tin,e she will find herself one of tb'
figures Of Washington society. IL is from
this that Washington society has not as higt
an average as that of other cities. Ii has th'
best people in the country, but it has ais
some of the worst 1t is made up of the mos
cultured and some very ignorant. You hea
in one ear French and Spanish from the sam
tongue, and in the other bad grammar an'
slang. Where the doors are thrown open {.
the world as they are here you must expec
TO get ali sorts. 1t is the ola podrida of tn
81 fod mi
together with seasoning, and it is not ssrang
that in the other cities of the United States
where long acquaintance and real worth hav
much to do with building up social standards
the general average should be better tha
here.
Twas much interested the other day wit
the way Mrs Cleveland received the 5000 o
1000 peop'e who passed before her at
public reception She was very beautiful J
her garnet velvet decollette dress, and
noted that she enjoyed shaking hands wit
common people as much As she had with tn
diplomats and the officers of the army an
navy at the state receptions saw Mrs Fo
som, the presidents mother-in-law, bebin
the receiving line. She is very fine loo'
ting woman She appears young and fresi
though she must be over 40. She has mad
many friends here in Washington, and
hear her well spoken Of everywhere. She
Q quiet, cultured woman, a pleasant talke1
and she has the appearance of being almo
Is much at home as her daughter in be
present surroundings. She has presided wit
grace over the presidents country seat, an
her receptions have been largely attended
the court circles of the capital
a thin. dark skinned, black eyed man, Wit
black side whiskers, was walking leisurely U
the stairs which go from the senate restau
ant to the ground floor of the Capitol tine 9th
day. lie was well dressed, but his coat hi
tbs cut Of the Quaker about it, and 1t was
fact Senator Chase, of Rhode Island. He hs
mounted but a couple of steps when he W
met by a rather nice X.oung man, who look
k;-n s,,,r,DIr Sap.tor ChaSe apr1arpnt